High humidity levels in a home can create mold, mildew, damage electronic equipment and ruin furniture. If not treated, the losses can be very expensive and sometimes detrimental to your health. High humidity can aggravate allergies, increase the occurrence of airborne infectious bacteria and dust mites, which can irritate the eyes, nose and throat and even trigger asthma attacks.
While sensitivity and tolerance level against airborne pollutants varies even among asthma sufferers, you might have to get a good air purifier recommended for allergy sufferers when the level of pollutants start to take a toll on your health. Mind you that the some of the top-rated air purifiers do not come cheap. This is not forgetting the recurring filter replacement cost in order to maintain top-level performance for the unit.
“Prevention is better than cure.” I’m sure you’re familiar with the phrase. If you’ve been seeing and smelling mould around the house (basement is usually the culprit), you may want to seriously consider getting good dehumidifier even before the urgent need for air purifer arises.
If you do your research carefully, sieving through the various dehumidifier reviews will certainly lead you to Friedrich D70BP. Considering one but need help to confirm it’ll be a great investment? Scroll down and you’ll end up with clearer idea on what to expect.
Friedrich D70BP: A Powerful Dehumidifier for Basement or Large Rooms
How Good is Friedrich D70BP?
Size of Your Room
The size of a dehumidifier is determined by the amount of water, measured in pints, it can extract from the air in 24 hours. It also depends on the size, measured in cubic feet, of the space being dehumidified. Larger spaces with higher relative humidity will require a dehumidifier with a larger capacity.
The Friedrich D70BP 70 Pint Dehumidifier is one of the best dehumidifiers for basement and has the capacity to handle large spaces with high relative humidity levels. For a point of reference, the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers recommends a 38 pint unit for a 2,500 square foot area with very wet conditions.
It doesn’t hurt to have a dehumidifier with more than ample capacity since this means that the unit will simply have to work less time to get the job done.
Water Removal
A primary consideration when purchasing a dehumidifier is how to handle the water that is removed. Many units have a bucket which may have to be manually emptied more frequently.
The D70BP has a pump which will allow the water to be drained continuously into a floor drain, utility sink or clothes washer drain. The D70Bp also has a bucket, however, many users complain that the bucket is flimsily constructed, is difficult to remove when full and the handles sometimes come loose.
Humidity Control
The most comfortable range of relative humidity for a home is 40-50 percent. Anything above this level feels uncomfortable and promotes the growth of mold and mildew.
Although dehumidifiers are most commonly used during warm, summer months, the US EPA recommends maintaining a relative humidity between 30 to 40 percent during colder months to prevent condensation from windows fogging up.
The controls on the D70BP, which display the room relative humidity and temperature, are mounted on the top for easily visibility. The humidity level can be set anywhere from 30 percent to 90 percent. For more convenience, the unit has an on/off timer that can be set in a 24 hour period.
Defrost to Prevent Freeze Up
If the unit will be operating in colder conditions, there is the possibility that the coils can frost over. The D70BP can operate down to 41 degrees Fahrenheit and has an automatic defrost capability to prevent the coils from freezing up.
Moving Around is Easy
The D70BP has a two speed fan which allows more flexibility for operating conditions and controlling noise levels. If the unit is going to be moved from one space to another, the unit has casters for easy relocation.
Measuring Customer Satisfaction
Customer satisfaction with the performance of home appliances generally depends on expectations. The fact is that dehumidifiers can generally be expected to last 4-5 years, and sometimes, you’re going to get a lemon.
The Friedrich D70BP has a high consumer satisfaction rating with 75 percent of consumers giving it either a 4 or 5 star rating, making it one of the best dehumidifiers on the market. The unit comes with a one year warranty from the manufacturer for parts and labor, but extended warranties up to three years are available.
A Buy Call?
I’ve now done my part in providing you better insight into Friedrich D70BP dehumidifier. But I’m not in the right position to help you decide. Whether you should push the buy call button, the decision is yours to make.
Consider the points that I’ve highlighted above. I trust you have the wisdom to decide if this is the best dehumidifier for your home.
Image courtesy of opus2008
